Hot air balloon how does it work

You'll be amazed by the beautiful simplicity of these early flying machines! Hot air balloons are based on a very basic scientific principle: warmer air rises in cooler air. Essentially, hot air is lighter than cool air, because it has less mass per unit of volume. A cubic foot of air weighs roughly 28 grams about an ounce. If you heat that air by degrees F, it weighs about 7 grams less. Therefore, each cubic foot of air contained in a hot air balloon can lift about 7 grams.

That's not much, and this is why hot air balloons are so huge -- to lift 70 stone, you need about 65, cubic feet of hot air! To keep the balloon rising, you need a way to reheat the air. Hot air balloons do this with a burner positioned under an open balloon envelope. Baskets have reinforced steel frames and are clad in woven wicker which is traditional, but also sufficiently light, strong and durable. Balloon baskets vary in size from holding two people up to 24 people. Our hot air balloons carry between 10 and 16 passengers and are approximately the size of large board room table.

Balloons have set minimum and maximum loading capacities. Large balloon baskets are usually rectangular and are split into comfortable compartments for three or four people, giving everyone a fantastic view.

Surfaces are covered in smooth leather and there are foot holes in the side of the basket so passengers can climb in and out. Many of our Virgin balloon baskets have bench seats which can be used for landing. It is fixed to a metal frame attached above the basket under the mouth of the envelope. The burner mixes liquid propane from pressurised gas tanks with oxygen and ignites it.

The pilot pulls a small valve which fires the burner and aims the flame into the mouth of the balloon to heat the air inside. Our balloons have two burners including one which lets propane out more slowly making it quieter. Therefore, in order for a hot air balloon to work, fire is used to heat the air inside of the balloon so that it is warmer than the cold air outside of the balloon. This results in the balloon floating upwards. Some balloons may also have a small compartment filled with hydrogen gas or helium to aid its flight.

While it may sound simple, it is nevertheless effective, as hot air balloons have been navigating the skies for close to years. Experienced pilots, like the ones employed by Compass Balloons, can control the path of a hot air balloon. Instead, pilots travel up or down to catch a different air stream, as the wind tends to blow in different directions based on the altitude. Pilots are also able to easily rotate a hot air balloon so that passengers can get a full panoramic view of the beautiful landscape around them.

A hot air balloon will land as soon as the pilot finds a good, clear, and safe space to land. When the pilot has identified where they will land, they will release a vent at the top of the balloon so that the hot air can begin to escape.

This will bring the balloon slowly down to the ground. To do this they will use the winds coming from different directions, at different altitudes and of varying speeds. The trained pilot will know where to maneuver the balloon to maximize on steering possibility.

This allows the pilot to know the direction in which he will move the balloon, however, he will not always be able to land precisely where he wants. How Does a Hot Air Balloon Work If you are close to ticking that hot air balloon ride off your bucket list, but your rational, curious side needs just a tad more persuasion, we can give you some technical information to help ease those nerves that are niggling in your head.

We often get asked these questions by guests and we are more than happy to share the ins and outs as to how hot air balloons work with you here: How does a hot air balloon work? Our baskets are handwoven rattan, an extremely resistant, durable yet light material. While baskets can vary in size, some holding just two people, larger baskets can carry groups of up to 20 people.